Steam-pressure regulator



(No Model.)

B. E. 'GAINES.

STEAM PRESSURE REGULATOR.

N0. 367,385. Patented Aug. 2, 1887.

5 p, ble spring, a valve being connected with the piston and adapted to be adjusted or operated the valve.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

ROBERT E. GAINES, OF FRANKFORT, KENTUCKY.

STEAM-PRESSU RE REGULATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 367,385, dated August 2, 1887.

' Application filed April 11, 1887. Serial No. 234,402. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT E. GAINEs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Frankfort, in the county of Franklin and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam-Pressure Regulators; and I do hereby declare that the followlng is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. v

My invention relates to that class of steam. pressure regulators in which a cylinderis connected with the steam-pipe and carries a piston acting against the tension of an adjustaby any movement of the piston caused by the steam-pressure within the cylinder.

The object of my invention is to provide a slmple and improved stea1n-pressure regulator of this class,which will be equally adapted for application to'steam-pumps and steam-en-. gines, which can be applied wherever an elbow is formed in the pipe, and which will efficiently operate to automatically control the speed of the engine entirely by boiler-pressure after the engine is set going.

A further object of my invention is to provide a steam-pressure regulator possessing advantages in pointof simplicity and inexpensiveness in construction, durability, and general efficieney.

In the drawings,'Figure l is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of a steam-pressure regulator embodying my improvements. -Fig. 2 is a transverse horizontal section of the same on the line at m, Fig.1. Fig. 3 is a corresponding view on the line y 3 Fig.1. Fig. 4 is a corresponding view on the line a 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a corresponding View on the line to 20, Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of at, a bottom branch, a, and a side branch, a the section'B of the steam-pipe being connected with the latter.

Into the top and bottom branches, to a, are

inders.

adjoining ends are near enough together to form an annular opening, d, of sufficient capacity to allow the full pipe-area of steampressure when the valve,hereinafter described, 'does not operate to close the opening.

F designates a hollow valve working in the cylinder 0, and comprising an annular ring or cylinder, f, and a transverse interior crosspiece, f. This valve corresponds to the interior diameter of its cylinder, and by reason of its hollow construction is perfectly balanced. The valve is normally just above the opening (1'.

.To the eross-piecef of the valve F is connected theend of a vertical piston-rod, G, extending from a piston, H, which works in the lower cylinder, D, the connection of the piston-rod with the valve and piston being preferably effected by means of nuts 9 g, respectively, as shown.

The valve, piston-rod, and piston normally rest upon and are supported by a coiled spring, I, contained within the lower cylinder, and of required tension. The tension of this spring is regulated by a jam nut, J, working in the cylinder D and against the lower end of the spring, the nut being adjustable bymeans of a set-screw, K, working through a screwthreaded head, L, in the bottom of the cylinder. The screw is preferably provided with a locknut, M, and the head L has a tube, N,

forming a vent to allow any products of condensation which may accumulate below the piston to pass off.

The operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which it appertains. The steampressure from the boiler, passing through the hollow balanced valve, acts upon the pistonhead and forces it downward against the ten- IOO sion of the spring, thereby causing a cone sponding movement of the valve, by which the passage of steam through the opening d is regulated, so that only the amount of pressure required to do the work is allowed to pass into the channel a and to the cylinder of the pump or engine.

By adjustment of the screw and jam-nut the speed is first set or regulated, after which the device automatically retains the same pressure and'speed. When the pressure from the boiler increases, the valve operates with relation to the opening (1 to correspondingly close it, and when the boiler-pressure decreases the valve is correspondingly raised by the tension of its supporting-spriiw.

It is manifest that numerous modifications in the construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and I therefore do not limit my claims to the exact construction and arrangement herein shown and specified.

I claim as my invcntion- 1. In a steam-pressure regulator, the combination of the T-pipejoint having an annular enlargement or channel, an upper and lower cylinder entering the same and forming an opening at their adjoining inner edges opening into said channel, a hollow valve comprising a ring or cylinder and sliding in the upper cylinder with relation to the opening, a piston operating in the lower cylinder and connected with the valve, a coiled spring acting against the piston, a jam-nut, and a set-screw, substantially as set forth.

2. A steam-pressure regulator comp rising a T-pipe joint having an annular central enlargement or channel, an upper andlower cylinder entering said joint invopposite directions and forming an annular opening at their adjoining inner edges, and valve mechanism sliding within the cylinders and adapted to regulate or close said opening, substantially as set forth.

3. In a steam-pressure regulator, the combination, with the T-pipe joint and cylinders entering the same from opposite directions and forming an annular opening at their adjoining inner edges, of a hollow valve comprising a ring or cylinder sliding within one of the cylinders with relation to said opening and mechanism for operating said valve, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I alllx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT E. GAINES.

Vitnesses:

J NO. B. 1\'[EEK, WM. L. TANNER. 

